Marking-machine



'R. I SKINNER. MARKING MACHIN E.

APPLICATION HLED APR.1,19I8.

Patented Dec. 14,1920.

5 SHEETS.SHEET 1.

%L6 ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

R. L. SKINNER.

MARKING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED APR.1.1918.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES:

R. L; SKINNER.

MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men APR. I, 1918.

Patented Deb.14,1920.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- INVENTOR. ji'oZeraZefizmer WI TN ESSES:

fil ATTORNEYS.

H. L. SKINNER.

MARKING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. I. I918. 1,362,443.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

5 SHEET -SHEE 5.

WITNESSES."

IN V EN TOR.

' izis ATTORNEYS.

@TATES FALIENT DFFICE.

MARKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed April 1, 1918. Serial No. 225,881.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT Len SKINNER, ofLe Roy, in the county of l-ienesee and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Marking- Machines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the reference-11m morals markedthereon.

My present invention relates to automatic machinery and moreparticularly to ma chines for stamping or marking packages or similararticles such as metal. cans in which foods are preserved and. which itis desired to identify with date, grade or other marks. The inventionhas for its object to provide a simple, efficient and durable machine ofthis character that will work smoothly and accurately even at high speedand which will be convenient to the operator who supplies and regulatesit. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in thenature of an attachment or auxiliary that may be applied to otherautomatic machinery performing previous operations on the same articlesand which may be readily combined with such machines and work in harmony with them. i To these and other ends the invention resides incertain improvements and combinations of parts all as will behereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end of the specification.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can marking machine constructed inaccordance with my present invention, showing the position of the partswhen moving the stamp in contact with a can;

2 is a similar view with the driving mechanism removed, showing theposition of the parts when moving the stamp in contact with the inkingdevice;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine with parts in positioncorresponding to Fig. 1; v

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line L -4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Fig, 1;

6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 6 -43 of Fig. 3,showing the position of the parts at the instant the stamp contacts witha can;

Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line T -'7" of Fig. 3; 1

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 8'"8 of Fig. 1;,

Fig. 9 is a detail view on the plane 99 of Fig. 2, showing themanner inwhich the can retaining dog trip pawl passes on the return movement ofthe stamp carrying slide;

Fig. 10 is overhanging slide, and

Figall is an enlarged end view of the stamp removed.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The machine illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention isdesigned particularly for applying grade marks to tin cans by means ofan inked type and the description, for the sake of clearness, will belimited to this application of the invention, although it will beunderstood that certain features thereof are applicable to machinesdiffering in the nature of either the marking device or the articlesacted upon.

It is the usual practice in canning factories to apply distinctive marksor brands to the cans after they have been. sealed, indicating the gradeor other characteristic of the contents. The present machine is adaptedto receive the cans in continuous succession from such sea-ling machine,mark them and then pass them on to another machine or deliver them asmay be desired. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, each can ishalted for a very brief period, at which time it is engaged by themarking element while a carrier that moves the latter back andforthbetween the marking position and the inking position is also at a. pointof rest. There is therefore no wiping; action between the marker and thecan although a: detail side elevation of the arm on the stamp carryingthe machine is adapted to work at such a f speed that neither thecarrier nor the can appears to rest at all. A similar movement isaccomplished in engaging the marking or stamping element with its inkingdevice and for the same purpose.

In the drawings, 1 represents a conveyor that presents the can to thestamping mechanism and that consists of three belts running in spacedrelation over pulleys 2 and carried in hearings in a table embodying theparallel. longitudinal members 4 Sup ported upon suitable legs 1 andconnected as will be apparent.

by the horizontal portion which extends beneath and supports the upperstretch of the belt. The cans may be fed to the conveyer as receivedfrom a sealing or other mathine performing a previous operation thereon.The pulley 3 is located beneath the table 5 of the sealing machine, sothat cans transferred from the latter to the belt are carded thereby anddelivered to a shelf or cross-piece 6 of the table 4. The cans restsuccessively on the shelf 6 while the stamp is applied thereto, and inorder to prevent the other cans on the conveyor from pushing againstanddisplacing the can on the shelf, I provide a detent consisting in thisinstance, of a pair of arms 7 carried by a rock shaft- 8 and normallyheld with their free ends slightly above the plane of the top of thebelt by a spring 9, grooves 2 being provided in the pulley 2 toaccommodate the arms 7. When in raised position, the detent engages thesecond can B and holds it and the successive cans against movement, thebelt 5 meantime slipping beneath the cans. After the stamp has beenapplied to the can A (Fig. 7), the latter is ejected from the shelf 6 bymeans of a pusher 10, engaging at its rear side, and slides down aninclined portion 11 of the table 4 upon a belt carrier 12 which travelsover a horizontal support 13 and pulleys 14 (only one of which is shownin Fig. 7) mounted in suitable bearings on the longitudinal members l.The detent 7 is simultaneously withdrawn allowing the belt to advancethe can B to the ledge 65, the detent springing up after can B haspassed and engaging in front of C, the cylindrical con.- tour of thecans permitting the ends of the arms 7 to rise between the cans l3 and iThe mechanism for actuating the pusher and detent 7 will be described indetail later.

The stamping mechanism is arranged on a support to one side of the bolts1 and 12, the support in this instance embodying a frame consisting ofspaced horizontal members 15 connected by vertical bars 16. The frame isvertically adjustable upon stationary upright posts 17 which also serveto support the inner longitudinal member f, by means of bolts 18 in theframe passing through slots 19 in the posts, for the purpose of allowingthe stamping mechanism to operate upon cans of length.

The stamp which applies ink to the can is carried by an intermittentlymovable carrier which has two rest positions, one when the stamp is inposition to make an impression on the can and the other when the stampis in position to engage an inking device or pad.

Tn the present instance, I provide a reciprocating stamp carrier 20movable in di iferent ways 21 in the proximate edges of the horizontalmembers 15 of the supporting frame, and connected by means of a pitman22 to .a crank pin 23 on a disk 25 carried by a shaft 26 which isrotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 27 fastened to the frame at 28.The shaft 26 carries a sprocket 29 which is driven by a chain 30 passingover a sprocket 31 on the shaft 32 of the pulley 1 and also over anidler sprocket 33 carried on a lever 34 which may be secured in positionto hold the chain tight by means of a bolt 35 passing through asegmental slot 36 therein. The shaft 32 may be driven from any source ofpower by means of a chain (not shown) passing over the sprocket 37.

The carrier 20 has a laterally extending arm 38 passing over the top ofthe can when in position A and the stamp 39 is vertically movable in avrecess 40 extending through the outer end of the arm 33. The stamp maybe moved vertically by means of a horizontally arranged lever 41 pivotedat 42 between ears 43 on the arm and provided with a. pin 24 at itsouter end engaging in slots 44 in upwardly extending ears 45 on thestamp. The free end 46 of the lever is engaged at the proper time bymechanism to be later described-and moved. upwardly against the force ofthe spring 47, thereby forcing the stamp into contact with either thecan or inking pad. The pivot pin 42 may be removed to change the type bylifting a pivoted latch plate 4L8 which has a notch 49 fitting over areduced portion 50 on the pin. After removal of the pin 42 the lever andstamp 29 carried thereby can readily be detached. The type 51 arecarried in a wedge shaped type block 52 sliding in a similarly shapedgroove in the stamp. and the type blocks are held tightly in the grooveby means of a yielding member such as a strip of rubber 53 secured tothe stamp at the bottom of the groove. Upon removal of the stamp 39 thetype block .can be readily withdrawn and a different one substituted.

'LThe inking device is shawn in detail in Fig. 8, and embodies on inkingpad 54 secured to the upper side of a ratchet wheel 55 carried by avertical shaft 56, journ'aled in an overhanging arm 57 secured to theupper arm 15 of the supporting frame. A helical spring 5 8 surroundingthe shaft bears at one end against the upper side of the arm 57 and atits other end against a nut 59 on the shaft. The spring not onlyoffers aresistance to free rotation of the pad but permits the latter to yieldslightly downward as the stamp is forced against it. The wheel 55 isintermittently advanced to bring a fresh portion of the pad beneath thestamp at each impression of the latter by means of a gravity operatedpivoted dog 55 carried by an arm 56 011 the stamp carrier 20. When thecarrier is moved in one direction the dog engages with a tooth of thewheel and rotates it ahead but passes by the teeth when moved in theopposite direction.

The lever 41 is, in the present instance, actuated by oppositelydisposed cam members 60, 60 secured to a slide 61 movable in guides 62on an offset portion 15 of the upper guide members 15. The slide isreciprocated by means of a projection or lug 63 on the crank disk, whichmakes alternate contact with lugs 64 and or on the slide 61, the lug 64being, in the present instance, formed at the lower end of a dependingplate 65 secured at its upper end to the slide, and intermediate itsends to a supplemental guide block 66 slidable in the grooves 21. Thecam members 60, 60 are formed preferably of sheet metal with offsetinclined portions 67, 67 respectively projecting into the path of theend 4-6, of the lever 41, and are so positioned on the slide relativelyto the lugs 6 and 649 that just before the stamp carrier reaches theright hand limit of motion, the lug 63 on the crank disk comes incontact with the lug 64 on the slide 6]. and moves the latter toward theleft 1), bringing the incline 67 of the cam member 60 in contact withthe end of the lever. Continued motion of the slide causesthe lever toride up the incline, as shown in Fig. 6, the lever reaching the upperend at the instant that the crank pin is upon the dead center in whichposition the stamp carrying slide is stationary. This position isindicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 by the line R. Then the end -16 of thelever is at its highest point, the stamp is in contact with the can, andsince there is no relative motion between the can, and stamp at thisinstant, there will be no tendency to blur the impression. The continuedmovement of the slide brings the incline 67 into the position 67 L inwhich position the lug 63 passes out of engagement with the lug 64, byreason of the circular path of motion of the former. As soon as theincline 67 has passed beyond the end of the lever, the latter is movedto the position shown by C (Fig. 6) by means of the spring 47, andfurther movement of the stamp carrierv to the right in said figurecauses the engagement of the end of the lever on the under side of theincline 67, the lever being depressed to pass by the lower end of theincline. After passing under the incline, the weight of the stamp willreturn the lever to horizontal position so that the end -i6 occupies theposition shown at C in Figs. 2 and 6, just before the incline 67 ismoved in contact therewith, by engagement of the lug 63 with the lug645* on the slide 61.

With the parts shown in position of Fig. 2, the stamp carrier has almostreached the left hand limit of motion, and the stamp is positioned abovethe inking pad. Just at the instant that the crank pm 23 reaches thedeadcenter the end of the lever will have reached the upper end of theincline 67,

this position being indicated in Figs. 1, 2

and 6 by L. In this position, the stamp is in contact with the inkingpad. Further movement of the cam slide and stamp carrier causes the endof the lever to move under the incline 67- and finally occupy theposition shown at A (Fig. l), completing the cycle of movement. As theend of the lever passes the under side of the inclines 67, 67*, theweight of the stamp ordinarily restores the lever to horizontal positionas shown in Fig. 5. If, however, it should from any cause stick in thelowermost position, as shown in dotted lines in said figure, the end 46would not be in position to properly ride up the upper faces of theinclines. In order to insure the proper operation, I provide stationarycams 68, 68 on the supporting frame adjacent the slide 61 and soarranged with reference to the inclines 67, 67 that in case the end ofthe lever as it passes under one of the inclines, for example, theincline 67 (Fig. 6), does not move to position to engage the otherincline 67 it will engage cam 68' before reaching the latter incline andbe brought into proper position to coiiperate with the latter. The cams6S and 68 are, in this instance, arranged. to one side of the inclines67, 67 so that the reciprocating motion of the latter is not interferedwith. When the end of the lever moves under the inclines 67, 67, thelatter have moved. away from the cams a suflicient distance so thatthere is ample space for the lever to pass between them.

After the stamp has been impressed upon the can, the latter is pushedoff the ledge 6 by the ejector 10, which, in the present instance, is inthe form of a reciprocating plunger guided in ways 69 on a lateralextension 70 of the stamp carrier. The plunger is actuated by means of agear segment 71 carried by a vertical shaft 7 2 in the extension 70, andmeshing with rack teeth 7 3 on the plunger. A downwardly projecting pin74L on an arm 75 of the gear segment engages alternately with stops 76,76 on the lower member 15 of the supporting frame when the stamp carrieris reciprocated. When the arm 75 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, theplunger is withdrawn, allowing the outer end thereof to pass by a can inthe position A (Fig. 7) as the stamp guide moves toward the right. Asthe stamp guide approaches the right hand limit of its motion, pin 74comes in contact with stop 76, causing the rotation of the gear segmentan d consequent outward movement of the plunger in rear of the can, asshown in Fig. 3. lVhen the direction of movement of the stamp carrier isreversed,

the cam B at the appropriate time. der to accomplish this, the rockshaft 8 is the plunger 10 carries the can A ahead, delivering it uponthe conveyer 12 as previously described, and just before the carrierreaches the left hand limit of motion, pin 74 strikes stop 76,withdrawing the plunger so that it can pass by a second can which hasmeanwhile been deposited on the shelf 6. This last named action isbrought about by withdrawing the detent 7Ifrom n oreXtended beyond theside member 13 of the belt table and at the free end, which isreinforced by a bearing 8 the shaft carries a crank arm 77 having alaterally offset projection 78 at its outer end. The upper corner ofthis projection is beveled at 79 to provide a cam surface with whichcooperates a similar beveled surface 80 on a cam member 81, pivoted at82 to a downwardly depending member 83 vertically adjustable on theextension of the stamp carrier, by means of a screw 8% passing through aslot in the slide. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that as the stamp carriermoves toward the left, the pawl 81 will engage the projection 78 andmove the arm downwardly thereby withdrawing the detent and allowing thebelt 1 to carry the can B ahead and deposit it on the shelf 6, the can Ahaving been previously removed by the plunger 10. As soon as cam 81 haspassed projection 78, the detent is urged upwardly by its spring 9 inreadiness to engage can C as it is fed forward by the belt 1'. Upon thereturn motion of the stamp carrier, a lateral bevel 85 on the cam 81 enages a similar bevel 86 on the projection 18, thereby swinging the cam81 about its pivot 82 as shown in Fig. 9, and allowing the passagethereof without withdrawing the detent. After the cam 81 has passedprojection 78, it again returns to vertical position in which it isstopped by engagement of cooperating portions 87 and 88 on the cam andslide, respectively.

T heoperation of the mechanism is as follows: a can transferred from theshelf 5 of the sealing machine to the belt 1 is carried thereby toposition B in which it is held back until the detent 7 is withdrawn. Itis then carried by frictional engagement with the belt to position A-upon the shelf 6, where it remains stationary while the stamp is beingapplied thereto, as previously described. While the stamp carrier ismoving toward the inking pad, the can A is transferred to the belt 12and the detent is withdrawn, allowing the next can to be fed forwardinto printing position. nism is readily adjusted to operate on cans ofdifferent length. The clamping bolts 18 for the supporting frame areloosened and then the frame is raised or lowered untilthe stamp makes aproper impression on the can The mecha- Similarly, the screw 84 isloosened to enable the slide bar 83 to be moved into coolerativerelationship with the crank arm 7 Guard rails 89 and 90 are provided onopposite sides of the conveyer 1, and the can is preferably moved incontact with the inner rail 90, as it is moved upon the shelf 6, bymeans of a deflector 91, pivoted to the outer longitudinal member 4 at92, and projecting over the top of the shelf. A bolt 93 operating in anarcuate slot 94: in the shelf enables the deflector to be adjusted toproper position to accommodate cans of dif fering diameters and lockedsecurely in position.

I claim as my invention 2 1. In a marking machine, the combination witha work support embodying a runway for a succession of articles, a stampand a reciprocatory stamp carrier, of a pitman for imparting movement tothe stamp carrier along the runway and means for bringing the stamp anda work piece on the support into engagement while the pitman is on adead center.

2. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support embodying arunway and means for feeding a succession of articles along the same, aninking device, a stamp and a stamp carrier arranged to reciprocate alongthe runway, of a pitman for imparting movement to the stamp carrier andmeans for bringing the stamp and inking device into engagement while thepitman is on one dead center and means for bringing the stamp and anarticle on the runway into engagement while the pitman is on the otherdead center.

3. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of astamp, a reciprocatory stamp carrier, a work feeding device on thelatter and means for actuating the stamp relatively to its carrier andagainst an article on the work support while the carrier and feedingdevice are at the reversing point of their reciprocation.

4. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of astamp, a reciprocatory stamp carrier, a driving Wheel and pitman formoving the stamp carrier, and a reciprocatory trip operated by thedriving wheel for actuating the stamp toward a work piece on the supportwhile the pitman is on a dead center.

5. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support and aninking device, of a stamp, a reciprocatory stamp carrier, meansincluding a device movable with the latter for feeding work piecessuccessively to a predetermined position of rest on the work supportand. means for bringing the stamp in alternate engagement with theinking device and a work piece on the support while the stamp carrier isat the respective reversing points of its reciprocation.

6, In a marking machine, the'combination with a work support embodying arunway for a succession of separate articles and means for feeding workpieces succe' ively to a predetermined position of rest thereon, of aninking device,- a stamp, a stamp carrier intermittently movable alongthe runway and occupying a position of rest when the stamp is inoperative relationship with either a work piece or the inking device,and actuating mechanism. cooperating with the stamp when the stampcarrier is at rest.

7. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of astamp, a stamp carrier movable on the support, a crank mechanism forreciprocating the carrier, means actuated by the crank mechanism forcooperating with and actuating the stamp when the stamp carrier is atthe limits of its motion, an inking device arranged at one such limit,and means actuated by the crank mechanism for moving a work piece to aposition. at the other limit of motion of the stamp carrier.

8. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a stamp carrier movable on the support, a crankfor reciprocating the carrier, a lever on the carrier for actuating thestamp, and. means actuated by the crank mechanism for cooperating withthe lever when the stamp carrier is at the limits of its motion.

9. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a stamp carrier movable on the support, acrankior reciprocating the carrier, a lever on the carrier for actuatingthe stamp, and cam members moved. by the crank mechanism ior actuatingthe lever when the stamp carrier is at the limits of its motion.

10. In a marking machine, the combina tion with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a stamp carrier movable on the support, a crankfor reciprocating the carrier, a lever on the carrier for actuating thestamp, a cam slide movable on the sup port having oppositely inclinedcam portions adapted to engage the lever, to deflect I it in a directiontransverse to that of the motion of the cam slide, and an operatingportion on the crank adaptedto engage alternately with each of a pair ofcooperating portions on the cam slide whereby the cam portions on thelatter engage alternately with the lever for actuating the stamp whenthe stamp carrier is at the limits of its motion.

11. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, or aninking de' vice, a stamp, astamp carrier, a crank for reciprocating thecarrier, an operating member on the carrier engaging the stamp, means onthe support for engaging the operating member when the stamp carrier isat the limits of its motion, and an operating por tion on the crank foractuating the stamp operating member.

12. In a marking machine, the combination with a Work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a reciprocating stamp carrier movable on thesupport and occupying a po' sltion of rest when the stamp is inoperative relationship with either a work piece or inking device, meansfor actuating the stamp when the stamp carrier is at rest, a work pieceejector carried by the stamp carrier, and means for projecting theejector in rear of the work niece at the end of one stroke of thecarrier so that the work piece will be carried along the support by theopposite stroke of the carrier.

13. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a stamp carrier occupying a position of restwhen the stamp is in operative relationship with either a work piece orthe inking device, means for actuating the stamp when the carrier is atrest, and an ejector carried by the carrier and operating to displacethe work piece when the carrier moves from printing to inking position.

14. In a marking machine, the combina tion with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a reciprocating stamp carrier occupying aposition of rest when the stamp is in operative relationship with eithera work piece or the inking device, an ejector carried by the carrier,and means for moving the ejector into operative relationship with a workpiece at the end of one stroke of the stamp carrier and moving it out ofoperative relationship at the end of the opposite stroke.

15. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support and aconveyer for delivering work pieces onto the work support in position tobe printed. upon, of a reciprocating member, an ejector carried by thereciprocating member and engaging a work piece on the support when thereciprocating member is moved in one direction, a detent for holdingback work pieces on the conveyer, and means for withdrawing the detentwhen the ejector removes a work piece from the support.

16. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a reciprocating stamp carrier occupying aposition of rest when the stamp is in operative relationship with eithera work piece or the inking device, means for actuating the stamp whenthe stamp carrier is at rest, a plunger transversely movable in thestamp carrier, an oscillatory member on the carrier engaging the plungerand stops on the support cooperating with the oscillatory member wherebythe plunger is moved into cooperative relationship with a work piece asthe carrier nears the print ing position andout of operativerelationshipas the carrier nears the inking position.

17. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support and aconveyer for delivering work pieces to the support in position to beprinted upon, of a reciprocating member, an ejector carried by thereciprocating member and engaging a work piece on the support when thereciprocating member is moved in one direction, a detent for holdingback work pieces on the conveyer, andhaving an operating arm, and a cammember caried by the reciprocating member adapted to engage theoperating arm of the detent when moved in one direction but pass byfreely when moved in the opposite direction. A

18. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of arotary inking pad on the support, a stamp, an intermittently movablestamp carrier occupying a position of rest when the stamp is inoperative relationship with either a work piece or the inking device,actuating mechanism cooperating with the stamp when the stamp carrier isat rest, and means carried by the stamp carrier for rotating the padbetween impressions of the stamp.

19. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a stamp carrier movable on the support, a crankfor reciprocating the carrier, a lever on the carrier for actuating thelatter when the actuating member is moving in the opposite directionrelatively to the stamp carrier, and means for causing the engagement ofthe cam portions with the lever when the stamp carrier is at the limitsof its motion.

20. In a marking machine, the combination with a work support, of aninking device, a stamp, a stamp carrier movable on the support, a crankfor reciprocating the carrier, a lever on the carrier for actuating thestamp, a cam slide movable on the support having oppositely inclined camportions adapted to engage the lever to deflect it in a directiontransverse to that of the motion of the cam slide, an operating portionon the crank adapted to engage alternately each of a pair of cooperatingportions on the cam slide whereby the cam portions on the latter engagealternately with the lever for actuating the stamp when the stampcarrier is at the limits of its motion, and means for moving the leverafter actuation by a cam portion into position to engage the cam portionon the opposite side and pass by the latter without operation of thestamp.

ROBERT LEE SKINNER Witnesses:

RUssELL B. GRIFFITH, AGNES NESBITT BISSELL.

